MacGillivray Freeman’s 3D Giant Screen Documentary National Parks Adventure is the Highest Grossing Documentary of 2016
The film’s worldwide roll-out to 113 venues in 15 countries in nine months made it the fastest giant- screen documentary roll-out in at least the past 5 years!
Laguna Beach, CA, December 8, 2016 – After a phenomenal nine months in IMAX® and giant screen theatres, MacGillivray Freeman’s National Parks Adventure has grossed more than $22.8 million in worldwide ticket sales, making it the highest-grossing documentary of 2016. It surpassed the highest-grossing theatrical documentary, Hillary’s America, which grossed $13 million in conventional cinemas, and overtook all other giant-screen documentary releases this year.
Narrated by Academy Award® winner Robert Redford, and produced in partnership with Brand USA, the destination-marketing association for the United States, National Parks Adventure has opened in 113 venues in 15 countries since it premiered on February 17, and it continues to play in more than 50 theatres.
“National Parks Adventure has had a stellar run in giant-screen theatres around the world this year, and the momentum keeps on building as we continue to open the film in new markets abroad,” said Shaun MacGillivray, producer and president of MacGillivray Freeman Films. “The audience has unequivocally embraced the film, which is inspiring millions of people with a renewed appreciation for our national parks and for nature’s wild places everywhere.”
From day one, National Parks Adventure has drawn impressive attendance numbers:
- New York—The American Museum of Natural History sold a record-breaking 340,000 tickets in 6 months, making it the museum’s highest-attended film ever for a 6-month period. It surpassed previous attendance records by more than 80,000 people.
- Washington DC—More than 135,000 tickets have been sold at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, making National Parks Adventure one of the top winter film openings at the museum in the last 5 years.
- St Paul–More than 176,000 people bought tickets at the Science Museum of Minnesota with 65,818 tickets sold during the first month, making it one of the best film openings the museum has ever had.
- Los Angeles—With more than 100,000 tickets sold, National Parks Adventure helped the California Science Center exceed its IMAX theatre budget by 25%.
- Cincinnati–With attendance of nearly 100,000 in 5 months, National Parks Adventure is the Cincinnati Museum Center’s highest attended the film in the last 5 years.
- More than 700,000 tickets have been sold in 45 international venues, including Mexico City, Sydney, Toronto, London, The Hague, Tijuana, Tokyo, and Taiwan
“In addition to the overwhelming consumer success, this film serves as a great vehicle to educate and inspire thousands of industry partners from around the globe to book more travel to the United States,” said Thomas Garzilli, Chief Marketing Officer for Brand USA. “In fact, our research has shown that after viewing National Parks Adventure, 81% of movie-goers’ are more likely to visit the USA – and we’re just beginning our global distribution. Over the next serval years, we expect millions of consumers to see the film internationally.”
“The national parks belong to all of us, and our dream was to share their breathtaking beauty and sublime wilderness with people around the world during this Centennial year,” added Greg MacGillivray, the film’s two-time Academy Award-nominated director and chairman of MacGillivray Freeman Films. “The film underscores the importance of protecting these treasured wild places for another 100 years.”
National Parks Adventure was honored with the Best Film of the Year, Short Subject by the Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA) in October. The film also received awards for Best Cinematography, Best Sound Design, and Best Score, as well as Best Marketing Campaign by a Distributor.
National Parks Adventure takes audiences on the ultimate off-trail adventure into the nation’s awe-inspiring great outdoors and untamed wilderness. Told from the perspective of national parks ambassador and world-class mountaineer Conrad Anker, adventure photographer Max Lowe, and artist Rachel Pohl, these modern-day explorers visit spectacularly wild and beautiful places – including Yellowstone, the Everglades, the Redwoods, and Arches – revealing a tapestry of natural wonders that will inspire the adventurer in us all.
National Parks Adventure is produced in association with Brand USA and presented globally by Expedia, Inc., and Subaru of America with promotional support from REI, Sierra Club, and Sunset and Coastal Living magazines.
About MacGillivray Freeman Films
MacGillivray Freeman Films is the world’s foremost independent producer and distributor of giant-screen 70mm films with 38 films for IMAX and giant-screen theatres to its credit. Throughout the company’s 50-year history, its films have won numerous international awards including two Academy Award® nominations and three films inducted into the IMAX Hall of Fame. MacGillivray Freeman’s films are known for their artistry and celebration of science and the natural world. It is the first documentary film company to reach the one billion dollar benchmark for worldwide box office.
About Brand USA
Brand USA is the public-private partnership responsible for promoting the United States as a premier travel destination and communicating U.S. entry/exit policies and procedures. Established by the Travel Promotion Act in 2010, the organization’s mission is to increase international visitation to the United States while working in partnership with the travel industry to maximize the economic and social benefits of travel. These benefits include creating jobs essential to the economy and fostering understanding between people and cultures. For industry or partner information about Brand USA, visit www.TheBrandUSA.com. For information about travel to and around the United States, please visit Brand USA’s consumer website at www.VisitTheUSA.com.
Media Contacts:
MacGillivray Freeman Films
Lori Rick
949-494-1055, lrick@macfreefilms.com
Boutique Publicity
Risa Chapnick & Ariana Swan
818-305-6053, risa@boutiquepublicity.com, ariana@boutiquepublicity.com
